My Trip Hangover

/1 Comment/in /by

I know, you’re wondering how I justify jumping in here when the Catholic Writers Conference Live is over.

I’ll tell you how: I’m in denial. AND I found that I didn’t have NEARLY the time I thought I would (I’m delusional) to live blog and share.

There is laundry reaching to my ceiling and kids hanging off of me. Here I sit, chuckling to think about how many different people held my baby (and I will share pictures, once I get them from my niece’s iPod during the week). My niece, for her part, has been talking non-stop about the experience she had.

And so am I. It’s hard not to break out in a squee here and there just thinking of the amazing time I had.

Next week, I’ll be sharing a host of links from the folks who participated in the blogging panel and also inviting your ideas for ways we can cross-promote each other, encourage each other, and, in general, speak in pirate voices at loud volume with much laughter.

(Forgive me, Boss of the Guild Blog, for I shall abuse my access.)

While you’re waiting to hear more from me, be sure to check out Guild member (and all around awesome woman) Lisa Hendey‘s picture collection on YouTube (embedded below):

—
Be sure to check SnoringScholar.com for more of Sarah Reinhard’s antics, tales of rural adventure, and writing updates, including more about her newest release, Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. You can also connect with Sarah on Twitter and Facebook.

Congratulations, Catholic Arts and Letters Award Winners!

/0 Comments/in , /by


It’s a good thing that I missed the CMN breakfast this morning, because there would have surely been some squealing and shouting and loud huzzahs from my corner when the winners were announced. (You might say I’m a wee bit of a fangirl…)

The finalists for adult fiction were:

The finalists for children’s/young adult fiction were:

And the winners of the 2011 Catholic Arts and Letters Awards are…
Michelle Buckman and Regina Doman!

Congratulations to all our finalists, and a warm whoop for our winners!

I’ll be offline tomorrow for the 500-mile drive home, but I have many pictures from today and yesterday to share, and I trust Stephanie’s going to keep us all updated about tomorrow’s goings-on.

—
Be sure to check SnoringScholar.com for more of Sarah Reinhard’s antics, tales of rural adventure, and writing updates, including more about her newest release, Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. You can also connect with Sarah on Twitter and Facebook.

Pirate Voices and Squees on the Show Floor

/1 Comment/in /by

There was a lot of squee-ing from me today.

There was the interview with John Michael Talbot:


Some of us have priorities other than socializing:


I worked with a few amazing newbie bloggers and quite a few different people on the trade show floor.

I had tears in my eyes when Margaret Rose Realy read from A Garden of Visible Prayer and tears–for a different reason–when Angela Breidenbach broke out in a pirate voice as part of her reading of Gems of Wisdom. Karina Fabian was at that reading too, and I heard one of my favorite parts of Why God Matters.

And then there was dinner:


From this group of smiles came the phrase “riding gunshot” and some unnamed young person spiked the baby’s hair. Maybe I have a prize for the person who can correctly identify the most people in this picture…and maybe the prize is a box of Cheerios… 🙂

The first Catholic Arts & Letters Awards will be awarded in the morning at the Catholic Marketing Network breakfast, which is early-early-EARLY.

Signing off from Valley Forge…

—
You can follow the play-by-play of Sarah Reinhard‘s Catholic Writers Conference Live experience on Twitter and Facebook.

The Fun Before the Fun

/1 Comment/in /by

I meant to do a post sooner, but who knew the fun would start before the actual fun? The conference doesn’t technically start until tomorrow, but here we are, tucked into bed and tired from all the fun.

Today’s hug count:
– John Desjarlais
– Regina Doman
– Pat Gohn
– Lisa Hendey
– Ellen Hrkach
– Lisa Mladinich and her delightful daughter
– Jerry Webster
(Apologies if I forgot anyone, and I’m sure I did!)

Tomorrow, I’ll be doing some on-the-floor interviewing and some goggling at ALL! THE! STUFF! on the trade show floor. I’m cooking up a way to involve the two young ladies in my room, too, because wow! They have some great insight and some excitement that I just love! (And we could all use some more excitement, don’t you think?)

What a blessing this opportunity to meet in real life is, truly. As we close our day with a rosary in our room (isn’t that lovely? It was Lisa’s idea), I’m going to thank God for the gift of these flesh-and-blood people, the ones who are here and the ones who are at home.

—
You can also follow the play-by-play of Sarah Reinhard‘s Catholic Writers Conference Live experience on Twitter and Facebook.

En Route…Trip Notes

/1 Comment/in /by

We still have a day or so before the actual Catholic Writers Conference Live begins, but I’m en route, and since I’m live blogging, the experience has begun for me!

Yay for that!

Today, for the first time ever, I met CWG President, awesome novelist, and all-around amazing lady Ann Lewis. I also met Margaret Rose Realy, who is just as delightful as you’d expect (and, in fact, even more so).

In fact, we’re all caravaning together; they’re in a room across the hall from me tonight.

Squee!

The day began, for me, around 5:30 AM when the man-cub woke up. He never really went back to sleep, though I sure tried. The adventure known as Getting to the Conference began at a Panera Bread on the other side of Columbus, Ohio, where we met up with Ann and Margaret.

We survived the roads (which is sayin’ something…you won’t find me complaining about Michigan drivers anymore after my experience with Pennsylvania drivers) and the food (which has been excellent so far) and even an influx of coffee (Margaret denied an after-dinner java, citing something about a need for sleep).

We may or may not stay up all night talking in the hallway while the baby (and niece?) sleep, trading tales about all things writing and reading and depleting the hotel’s supply of complimentary Andes mints.

This may or may not be the trip in which I become one of those people with a named GPS in my van. (Hey, if the voices in my head have names, why not my GPS? Because I haven’t been inspired by a good one yet!)

Tomorrow, we arrive in Valley Forge. My hotel room is sure to be the start of the fun: we’re sharing it with the incomparable Lisa Mladinich and her daughter. On my list of people I have to hug in person are Lisa Hendey, Pat Gohn, and Karina Fabian. (I’ve forgotten at least five.)

There will be publishers and fellow writers, lots of learning and even more networking. My brain will go into hyperdrive and I’m sure to laugh a lot.

It’s the Night Before, and I’m excited!

(I was going to post a picture, but…well, let’s just say that if this post was going to go live before the end of the week, we had to do it WITHOUT a picture. I WILL post pictures later in the week, and maybe even as soon as tomorrow, though.)

—
Sarah Reinhard is a Catholic wife, mom, blogger, reader, and farm girl who blogs at SnoringScholar.com. She is the author of Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Live Blogging and Coaching and Interviewing, OH MY!

/0 Comments/in , /by


My brain is spinning. In less than one week, I hit the road, baby (and possibly niece) in tow to attend the Catholic Writers Conference Live.

I’ve never been to a writers conference like this (though I have participated in online conferences). In fact, the last time I was at a conference at this level was probably more than 20 years ago, when I was in FFA.

Not only am I attending this conference, but I find that I will also be coaching a few people about blogging and also conducting some interviews (a few of which have me jumping! up! and! down!).

But I can’t think of all of that right now. Right now, the laundry, meal planning, and details of those who are staying behind has my brain whizzing and my heart racing.

Then there’s the matter of my blog. I’ll be spending the week here, live blogging. You can bet I’ll be live tweeting, too, so check me out on Twitter (I’m @peerybingle) during the week! And I couldn’t leave my Facebook page without a plug or two, so there will probably be pictures and such there.

With all that, I think my blog will have some scheduled stuff running, while all the live action–the real life side of things–takes precedence in other places.

Sometimes, that’s the role my blog plays. Instead of capturing the moment in my life, it covers me while I go away for a while. Sometimes, I’ll call myself “out of blogfice” and not post anything. Other times, I just won’t post (that’s what happened in the early part of this week, in fact). And still other times, like next week, I schedule things ahead of time, including guest posts and reviews.

Will you be at the live conference this year? Be sure to stop by and say hi!

—
Sarah Reinhard is a Catholic wife, mom, blogger, reader, and farm girl who blogs at SnoringScholar.com. She is the author of Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent & Christmas Reflections for Families. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Tips for Making the Most of a Writers’ Convention

/0 Comments/in /by


1. Make a list of goals or needs. Why are you attending this conference? Have some specific things you want to get out of it. Some ideas:

* meet publishers
* find a critique partner or group
* get more marketing ideas
* meet illustrators
* specific things you want to learn

2. Have a business card. Give one to everyone you talk to. In fact, have a pen handy always and write on the back: “Enjoyed talking to you about…” so they know why they have your card.

3. Take notes: Either on the back of their business cards or in a notebook or on your smart phone or… Get the person’s contact info and write down what you talked to them about and why you want to follow up. It will be very handy when you get home!

4. Talk to authors: find out their stories, their issues, how you can help each other. What’s working for them? What are their challenges?

5. See a radio station or podcaster? Ask them if they have an open slot! You could get some free advertising! If not, get their info and contact them after the convention.

6. Talk to the booksellers at the expo. Some might take a copy or two of your book on commission. Others might be run by the publisher themselves.

7. Go to the con suite if there is one. Meet people. Network. Have fun. Get free snacks. Can it get any better than that?

8. Bring advertising stuff for the freebie table. Bookmarks, etc. It doesn’t cost anything to put them there–jsut be sure to gather the extras before you leave!

9. Know anyone getting a booth? In a group that might pitch in for a booth together? Make it happen.

10. Have fun! It’s not all learning and networking. Relax and enjoy yourself. Wear a costume (if it’s that kind of convention) or a funny hat or vest. Some of the best stories come from conventions after hours.

Catholic Writers to Convene August Conference in Valley Forge

/0 Comments/in , /by

Valley Forge, PA–The third annual Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE will take place August 3-5, 2011, at the Scanticon Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia, PA. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild (CWG) and the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), it will be held in conjunction with CMN’s annual retailer trade show. The Catholic Writers Conference LIVE provides Catholic authors with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, fellow writers, and bookstore owners from across the globe.

CWG President Ann Margaret Lewis said this year’s conference will, “focus on marketing and selling one’s written work.” Highlights of the conference include:

• Over 30 sessions taught by professionals in writing, marketing, blogging and publishing
• Pitch Sessions where writers may meet privately with representatives from four publishers
• One-on-one coaching sessions. For $35 an author can have a 30 minute private consultation with a specialist who will review their manuscript and guide them toward publication.
• Rapid-fire readings. Published authors will each have five minutes to read a selection from one of their books. A mass book sale and signing will follow.

Lewis says the conference comes at a modest cost. “Registration for the jam packed three days is only $90 for CWG members or $100 for non-members. And we have a special price of $42 for students. Our conference allows you to connect personally with Catholic publishers and retailers, to show your work, learn the craft and network.” Priests and religious are invited free of charge, but must register at the email address: http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.

This year’s conference speakers include:

• Catholic publishing representatives Claudia Volkman of Servant Books/St.Anthony Messenger Press,
• Regina Doman, author of numerous young adult and children’s books and acquisitions editor for Sophia Institute Press,
• Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, EWTN TV host of “Everyday Blessings for Catholic Moms” and author of numerous Catholic books including “Mother Teresa and Me,”
• Michelle Buckman, author of the young adult novel “Maggie Come Lately” and the adult drama “Rachel’s Contrition,”
• Angela Breidenbach, author of “Gems of Wisdom” and
• Patti Armstrong, co-author of the best-selling Amazing Grace book series and author of “Catholic Truths for Our Children, Stories for the Homeschool Heart.”

Past attendees gave glowing accounts of their experiences at the conference:

• Carol Bannon, author of the children’s book “Handshake from Heaven,” said, “Attending this conference has been the best thing I have done for myself professionally.”
• Writer Melanie Cameron concurs, “I recommend this conference as a resource for any author (or wannabe) at any stage. You will walk away empowered!”
• Maureen Martin, a consultant and trainer said she attended to connect with other professional Catholics. “It was such a wonderful, nurturing environment where we could share our faith and our love for literature.”

The Catholic Writers Guild, a religious non-profit organization, sponsors both this live conference in August and an online conference in February to further its mission of promoting Catholic literature. “Our conferences are totally focused on encouraging faithful Catholics to share genuine Catholic culture and faith in their writing no matter what genre,” says Lewis. “These events are integral to our mission of ‘creating a rebirth of Catholic arts and letters.”

Also at this year’s conference, the CWG will be presenting its first ever Catholic Arts and Letters Awards (called the “Lilies”) for the best in Catholic fiction. This award will recognize one book in the adult market and one in the children’s market for its literary merit.

Information for the Catholic Writer’s Conference can be found on the conference web site: http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.

The CWG is a professional group of writers, artists, editors, illustrators, and allies whose mission is to build a vibrant Catholic literary culture. The organization is loyal to the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

Volunteer Drive: Catholic Writers Conference Live

/0 Comments/in , /by


CWG MEMBERS ONLY: This is the next in series of activities the Guild does, and that it needs volunteers to help with. The CWG wants to be a force for promoting quality Catholic works–and quality works by Catholics. Won’t you give of your time and talent for this worthy endeavor? If the program below doesn’t appeal to you, but you want to help, check out the other programs here.

The Catholic Writers Conference Live is is one of our biggest events. Not only do we provide valuable information and networking to authors, but we provide a Guild face to publishers and bookstore owners at the accompanying Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show. This is BIG, and we will need help before, during and after the conference. The conference is August 2-5 at Valley Forge, PA. We need helpers both now and/or during the conference. Many folks who have helped with this conference came away with new friends, new writing and marketing opportunities, and even new writing contracts.

The Laudable Laura Lower will coordinate volunteers this year. If you are attending the conference and want to help, please go here to sign up: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GVSVRSL

NEED NOW AND DURING CONFERENCE:

The Excellent Ellen Gable Hrkach will again coordinate the booth on the trade show floor. Here is where we contact publishers, wholesalers and bookstore owners. She needs an assistant coordinator for the booth. This person will assist Ellen Hrkach in evaluating books that have been asked to be part of the booth to ensure they do not contradict Catholic principles. Contact Ellen at ellengablehrkach(at)gmail.com

LOCAL TO VALLEY FORGE? We will need someone to buy some supplies, get us a coffee urn (borrowing if possible), etc. The Guild will reimburse and get you access to our Sam’s or Costco membership.

BEFORE THE CONFERENCE:

–Someone to schedule book signings. This person will take names of members who want to do a signing and make a schedule for the booth.
–Someone to create a schedule we can put in the CMN program brochure.
–Someone to print items for the booth–this varies from brochures to business cards to cover art or other art for the booth. The Guild will reimburse you for printing costs.

DURING THE CONFERENCE:

Booth Set-up/Tear down the booth: We have a fabulous booth and CMN gives us a terrific spot each year. This is done on Tuesday afternoon, so you’d need to come to the conference a day early. Tear down is usually after the last day of the conference. It’s a lot of fun–sometimes, we get free stuff from the other booths that don’t want to deal with carrying stock home!
People to man the booth: You will watch the booth, talk to people about the Guild, man the coffee pot, keep things neat, etc.
People to work with the authors at the book signing: You’ll make sure they have a sign and pens, and make an announcement over the PA system.
Technical Assistant: To handle AV equipment for presentations
Presenter Aids: You will make sure presenters are at their classroom on time, lead the group in a short prayer and introduce the presenter. You may also get supplies (pens etc) and water for presenters.

Stay in the Know

Join Our Newsletter

Members and supporters can get the latest on CWG news and events by signing up for our newsletter.

Catholic Writers Guild
P.O. Box 77
Eaton, IN 47338

About
Membership
Connect
Showcase

Blog
Contact
Terms of Use
FAQs

Pray with Us

Click Here